PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lyoha Nagibatel (ranked 1927 p4p, 2548 weight class) and Delightful Panda (ranked 201 p4p, 251 weight class). The key to victory for Lyoha Nagibatel has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Nagibatel
vs
Panda

180 cm
24
160
8 - 5 - 0

150 cm
21
155
5 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lyoha Nagibatel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Delightful Panda!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Panda fails to land the takedown.
Nagibatel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And Panda tries to counter it with a takedown but Nagibatel pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Panda dives in and grabs Nagibatel's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nagibatel pushes down on Panda's head and hops out.
Nagibatel swats away the attempt to clinch by Panda.

Nagibatel gets tackled into the cage by Panda. Panda maintains the clinch.
Panda blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Panda drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lyoha Nagibatel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Delightful Panda.

Nagibatel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nagibatel misses with a straight right.
Panda avoids the body shot from Nagibatel.
We've been informed that Panda has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
The fight stays on the outside here - Panda looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Panda steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Nagibatel. That one must have hurt.
Panda shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nagibatel as he avoids it easily.
Nagibatel lands a high kick!
Nice body punch from Nagibatel.
Panda tries to clinch but Nagibatel moves away
and Nagibatel counters with a nice leg kick.
Nagibatel turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nagibatel scores with a punch to the head.

Panda is rocked!
Lyoha Nagibatel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Panda clinches up against the cage.

Nagibatel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nagibatel leaves Panda with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Nagibatel. No joy for Panda on that attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nagibatel swings widly with a right hand

and Panda counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Nagibatel has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Panda is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nagibatel is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Nagibatel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Panda changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nagibatel tries to avoid it but Panda manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nagibatel to the ground. Nagibatel escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Panda moves to clinch but Nagibatel breaks away
and Nagibatel counters with a leg kick.
Nagibatel throws a low kick, looking for Panda's leg but Panda calmly moves out of range.
Panda shoots in for a takedown but Nagibatel shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A head kick misses from Nagibatel.
Panda tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Panda closes the distance and clinches.
Nagibatel lands a nice shot to the body.
Nagibatel lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Panda wants to take the fight to the mat but Nagibatel manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Nagibatel scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Nagibatel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A bone on bone clash there as Panda blocks the leg kick.
And Panda tries to counter it with a takedown but Nagibatel pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Nagibatel finds it's way through Panda's defenses.
Panda is still on wobbly legs! Can Nagibatel finish him?
Panda fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ohhhhhhhhhh, brutal head kick from Nagibatel! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:15 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Lyoha Nagibatel!
Lyoha Nagibatel seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.